Forum - View topicTo Aru Majutsu no Index -- question.
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Toucanbird
Posts: 126 Location: Winona, Minnesota |
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Hey guys, I was looking for a new anime to watch and this one sort of piqued my interest. Although, yes, I know I wouldn't call it "new," it's still an anime I hadn't discovered until recently and I thought about giving it a try. However, I'm a little confused by something.
I also noticed that there's some sort of connection between Toaru Majutsu no Index and Toaru Kagaku no Railgun. All the ANN profile tells me about Railgun is that it's a side story of Index. So, let me ask, what is the connection between the two? Is it a sequel to Index? A prequel? An alternate retelling? The reason why I want to know is if it's a prequel, then I want to watch Railgun first. If it's a sequel, then obviously I'll watch Index first. You see what I mean? "Side story" doesn't really give me much of a hint as to what sort of setup there is between Index and Railgun (since I didn't read the manga). Can anyone enlighten me on this? (And yes, I already got the impression that Index follows Touma's story more closely and Railgun follows Mikoto's). I've at least interpreted that much. |
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Eivion
Posts: 569 |
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Its takes place before and during Index. Doesn't matter which you watch first since the stories don't really interact.
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15573 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Well chronologically Railgun is first, but if you watched Railgun first, you would probably end up confused about certain things.
Curently Railgun is in it's 23rd episode, which is somewhere between the 9th and 10th episode of Index. But if you did not watch Index first, you probably would have ended up confused about certain characters makeing cameos, their story and ability. Like random nun is attacking vacume, a suden character nature change and what is it with that strange looking teacher. I would kind of say that Index is a good point for introducing two of the main characters in Railgun. Railgun being good for expanding on the characters. |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18442 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Railgun is a spin-off of Index which features a prominent recurring side character (an esper nicknamed Railgun for her ability to control electromagnetics, which she most commonly - and dramatically - uses to accelerate a small object to a highly destructive speed, much like a railgun does) who many fans feel was actually the most interesting character in the original series. Others have commented on how the second series fits into the timeline of the first, so I won't get into that here, but they're also right that Index should be watched first if you want to fully appreciate Railgun.
Overall, the first series is a generally (though not entirely!) serious collection of story arcs about a boy with the ability to neutralize esper powers getting mixed up with both esper users and actual magic-users in a fairly typical super-powered action fest. It has its moments but I'd probably grade it a B- overall, and its focus doesn't always stay on its apparent main characters. Based on the handful of episode that I've seen, the second series is much more light-hearted - at least early on, anyway. |
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 24141 |
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I would rate Index higher than Key does: I'd give it an A-. I found the various story arcs to be pretty inventive and I liked all the characters. My sense is that reaction to Index is mixed: not everybody is a fan but those of us who do like it tend to be pretty enthusiastic about it. I also like Railgun and there is a definite similarity in sensibility, but I did find the various story arcs in Index to be more inventive than Railgun. Personally, I would recommend watching Index first, but as has already been noted, it doesn't particularly matter what order you decide upon.
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Toucanbird
Posts: 126 Location: Winona, Minnesota |
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Thanks for the insight. I had a feeling I should probably watch Index first (after all, they made it first so it's only logical to watch it first).
For those of you that watched both, which one do you think is better? Index or Railgun? |
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nechronius
 Posts: 275 Location: So Cal, USA |
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Railgun.
Not for any prurient interest although for some there is plenty of that. Railgun strikes me as a more interesting character than the ones in Index. It actually took me about a year to finish Index (paused it at around the whole "amnesia" revelation) because I found it somewhat dull. Railgun has kept my interest somewhat better with a more connected story. There is one really glaring seeming omission though that just doesn't sit right with me. As important and overarching as spoiler[the whole "sisters" plot thread] was in Index, ask yourselves how much of an impact it has had in Railgun. And I guess that's what makes it a spoiler[spinoff rather than a parallel story]. |
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Eivion
Posts: 569 |
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Hard for me to choose. The way Railgun paces itself allows for the characters to be fleshed out better, but I find the stories of Index more interesting. I actually would have said Railgun up to its first half, but then it got into a slightly annoying filler phase where not much was really happening. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15573 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Each has it's merits, Index uses harem jokes and a range of interesting characters within the magic and ESPer side. It also tends to get a bit crazey at times, ie the beach episode, probaably never seen one like that.
Railgun has mostly females in the cast, and most plots are around terrorist like hapenings and searches for power, often to cover their own weakness. But atleast Railgun is about one of the most popular characters in Index, in fact she is one of the first characters to appear in Index. Personal opinio is that I liked plot and characters in Index, but I think that Railgun may have been executed better. |
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Toucanbird
Posts: 126 Location: Winona, Minnesota |
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It sounds like each has their strengths and weaknesses and from what it sounds like in the description, it all depends on personal preference.
Does Touma play a significant role in Railgun or is it pretty much the Mikoto show? |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15573 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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A couple episodes here and there, he introduces a character, a fight scene or two, saves the day once directly, and another by accident. Aswell as a couple passings. But there is also episodes and on other characters, leaving Mikoto in minimal parts at times. |
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Spastic Minnow
Bargain Hunter Exempt from Grammar Rules  Posts: 4630 Location: Gainesville, FL |
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Well, what if you want to watch them at the same time? It seems like it should work well. Although I assume you'd want to finish up the final arcs of each on their own.
Yesterday I watched the first few of Index and the first episode of Railgun because I heard the first episode of Railgun helped to inform you about Espers in a way Index doesn't. But after a few episodes of Index's over-dramatic confrontations it made me realize that the lighthearted tone of Railgun would be a good break from Index. So that's what I'm going to try |
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